Collapsible convertible rocking chair



M y 9, 1950 c. KREUTZER 2,507,165

GOLLAPSIBLE CONVERTIBLE ROCKING CHAIR Filed April 28, 1949 k Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES 2,507,1 5. COLLAPSIBLE eo wnmrmiinnoexme CHAIR Casper Kreutzer; Militown, N; J Ar ica ji nApril 28, 194a,.S ria1 Na 9951-23 7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in chairs of the type which are convertible for op-. P16118 1 use either as astationary or standing chair or as a rocking chair.

Qhairsadapted to be converted \i'or either standing or rocking use are known to the art, and usually include rocker members which are pa e ally connected with the chair structure so. as to be. capable of being moved to and from out 01f tfirviceposition from and to service position. Chairs of; such type have not appeared to have met withmuch popular favor for the reason, it is believed, that the structures thereof have either been too complicated and difiiculi to opcrate in effecting conversion, or, when converted torocking condition, did net adequately. secure the, rocker members in service position andassiire Stability in suchlposition.

Having; these circumstances in: view, it, is the PllI POSeoI this invention to provide a convertible chair'wherein rocker membersare respectively pivotally connected to the respective front legs of the chair, so as to extend between said front legssand the rear legs of the chair, flndso as to swine b ut their pi l on ec s to and fromout of. service. position from: and to service esition; novel and easily manipula a le means of simple structure being zprovided in. connection with the rear legs-elf the chair adapted. to re:- leasably. en ga ge the rocker members so as to firm! ly and. securely unite the same with therear chairlegsso to :provide thechair. with rocking support; said latter means being so constructed and arranged as not to appreciably alter the con. ventional appearance of the chair, and also being of such character and disposition as toavoid ex ternaily projectingparts which might likelybe accidentally and detriment'ally engaged by the person or. the clothing of the users.

Illustrative embodiments of the inventioniare how int e ecompanv e aw n hi h Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofa convertible chair. according to this, invention asconditioned tor-sta y or st d g us nd g. 2 is a s milar perspective-view of the chair as condi- Z tion d fo rockin use.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View, taken-en iirie 3-3 in Fig- 2, but drawn on an e ar 5981.

i is a fragmentary sectional View similar torthat of Fig. ;3, but showing a modified arrange? ment of the means for securing a rec-13ermemher-gin service position to convert the chair: jor mkingnse.

Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are fra men aryseetioea .56

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The rocker members, being .pivotally connected to the foot end portions 13 of the front leg frame It, as above explained, the same are capable of being up swung to out of service positions when the chair is to be conditioned for stationary standing or non-rocking use, as shown in Fig. 1. Means is provided for releasably retaining the rockermembers i l in such swung out of service positions. An illustrative form of such means, as shown, comprises spring clips 25 which are affixed to and which project rearwardly from the upper end portions of the front leg frame It), or from other suitable parts of the rearward portion of a chair structure. Said spring clips 25, in the illustrative form thereof as shown, comprise flexibly resilient metallic plates or leaf spring bodies, which terminate at their [free ends in retainer lips 26 angularly disposed for inward projection therefrom. It will be obvious that, when the rocker members I4 are up swung to out of service position, the clips 25 may be outwardly flexed to permit the free end portions of said rocker members to move upwardly past the retainer lips 23 until abutted against the adjacent portions of the leg frame, whereupon the flexed clips are leased for inward movement of their retainer lips 26 'into embracing and holding relation to the rocker'members (see Fig. 1).

When it is desired to condition the chair for rocking use, the rocker members I4 are released from above described up swung retained condition, and are thereupon down swung to dispose their rearward end portions adjacent to the foot portions 21 of the rear leg frame ll of the chair. Novel means is provided for releasably coupling or interlocking the down swung rocker members with said rear leg frame-foot portions 21, whereby t aifix said rocker members to the latter in service position. In a preferred form of such means, a tubular rung 28 is connected with and so as to extend between the foot portions 2'!. Slidably mounted in each outwardly open end portion of the tubular rung 28 is a locking bolt 29. Contained within the tubular rung 28 is compression spring means 30. Said spring means 30 is adapted to engage the inner ends of the locking bolts 29 so as to tensionally exercise thereupon yieldable outwardly projecting thrust.

Provided in the respective wall portions of the tubular rung 28 which house the respective locking bolts 29 are slotways 3|. These slotways are provided at their inner ends with inner bayonet slots 32 extending laterally therefrom, and with similar bayonet slots 33 at their outer ends. The bolts 29 are each provided with laterally extending finger pieces 34 which project through and are adapted to ride in the adjacent slotways 3|.

When the rocker members It occupy retained up swung out of service positions, the bolts 29 are disposed in retracted positions against the thrust of the spring members 30, so as to be withdrawn into the tubular rung 28, the bolts being retained in such withdrawn positions by swinging the finger pieces 34 thereof into the inner bayonet slots 32 of the slotways 3|. The locking bolts being thus withdrawn, and retained withdrawn, free the outer sides of the foot portions 21 from undesirable projection of the bolt ends, so that not only are the rocker members unimpeded when down swung to service relation to the rear foot portions 27, but also outward projections from said foot portions are eliminated, so as to avoid risk of injury to foot wear or to the persons of those moving about the chair.

To operatively interlock the down swung rocker members M with the rear foot portions 21, when converting the chair for rocking use, the rearward end portions of said rocker members are provided with locking bolt receiving openings or sockets 35, which are adapted to be aligned with the axes of the locking bolts when the rocker members are lowered to service positions. Upon alignment of said openings or sockets 35 with the locking bolts 29, the latter are released from retracted positions by swinging their finger pieces 34 out of the inner bayonet slots 32 into the slotways 3i. The locking bolts 29, when thus released, will be outwardly moved by spring means 30, whereby to project their outer end portions into the aligned openings or sockets 35, thus interlocking the rocker members in operative fixed relation to the rear foot portions 21 of the chair frame. The locking bolt, when thus engaged with the rocker members, can be secured against accidental release from the latter by swinging the finger pieces 34 thereof into the outer bayonet slots 33 (see Fig. 3).

In chair constructions wherein a complete rung extending between the foot portions of the rear leg structure is undesirable, a modified mounting of the locking bolts of the kind shown in Fig. 4 may be used. Such modified arrangement comprises a socket piece 36 for each rear leg foot portion having an outwardly open bore 37. Integral or unitary with said socket piece 36 is a laterally extending bracket or supporting plate 38 which is adapted to be applied to the rear surface of a rear leg foot portion 21, and to be secured thereto by fastening rivets or screws 39, or other suitable attaching means. Slidably mounted in the bore 37 of the socket piece 36 is the locking bolt 29, behind which is arranged spring means 30, whereby to project the locking bolt from the outer open end of the socket piece 36. Provided. in the wall of the socket piece 36 is a slotway 3! which is formed at its inner end to provide an inner bayonet slot 32 and at its outer end to provide an outer bayonet slot 33. It will be obvious that manipula tion and use of the locking bolt in this modified mounting thereof is the same as above described with respect to the rung mounting of said locking bolts.

Although application of the convertible rocker structure according to this invention has been above described with respect to its application to chair construction, it will be obvious that it can also be applied to other articles of furniture which is desired to be provided for conversion to and from stationary or standing condition from and to a rocking condition, such, for exsimple, as a childs crib adapted for either sta tionary use or for rocking use in the manner of "a cradle.

Having now described my invention, I claim: 1. In a chair or other article of furniture convertible for stationary or rocking use and having front and rear legs, rocker members adapted to be optionally positioned in service or out of dition, said latter means comprising locking bolts, housing means for slidably supporting the locking bolts affixed to the foot portions of the rear legs, said rocker members having locking bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected, spring means for projecting the locking bolts, said locking bolts having laterally extending finger pieces, said housing means having longitudinal slotways through which said finger pieces extend, and said slotways terminating at their respective inner and outer ends in bayonet slots into Which the finger pieces may be turned, whereby to releasably retain said locking bolts in retracted or projected positions as the case may be.

2. In a chair or other article of furniture convertible for stationary or rocking use and having front and rear legs, rocker members adapted to be optionally positioned in service or out of service condition, means to pivotally connect forward end portions of the rocker members to foot portions of the front legs, means to releaseably hold the rocker members in up swung and out of service condition, means to releasably hold the rocker members in down swung service condition, said latter means comprising a tubular rung connected with and extending between the foot portions of the rear legs, locking bolts respectively slidably mounted in respective outer end portions of the rung, means for manipulating said locking bolts, and said rocker members having locking bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected.

3. In a chair or other article of furniture convertible for stationary or rocking use and having front and rear legs, rocker members adapted to be optionally positioned in service or out of service condition, means to pivotally connect forward end portions of the rocker members to foot portions of the front legs, means to releasably hold the rocker members in up swung out of service condition, means to releasably hold the rocker members in down swung service condition, said latter means comprising a tubular rung connected with and extending between the foot portions of the rear legs, locking bolts respectively slidably mounted in respective outer end portions of the rung, spring means within the rung for projecting the locking bolts, said locking bolts having laterally extending finger pieces, said rung having longitudinal slotways through which said finger pieces extend, said slotways terminating at their respective inner and outer ends in bayonet slots into which the finger pieces may be turned, whereby to releasably retain said locking bolts in retracted Or projected positions as the case may be, and said rocker members having locking bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected.

4. A folding chair convertible for stationary or rocking use comprising pivotally connected front and rear seat supporting leg frames and a fold able back rest, rocker members adapted to be optionally positioned in service or out of service condition, means to pivotally connect forward end portions of the rocker members to foot portions of the front leg frame, spring clips mounted on the upper portions of the front leg frame adapted to releasably engage and hold the rocker members in up swung out of service condition, means to releasably interlock the rocker members to the foot portions of the rear leg frame when said rocker members are down swung to service condition, said latter means comprising locking bolts, housing means for slidably supporting the locking bolts affixed to the foot portions of the rear leg frame, and said rocker members having lock bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected.

5. A folding chair convertible for stationary or rocking use comprising pivotally connected front and rear seat supporting leg frames and a foldable back rest, rocker members adapted to be optionall positioned in service or out of servicev condition, means to pivotally connect forward end portions of the rocker members to foot portions of the front leg frame, spring clips mounted on the upper portions of the front leg frame adapted to releasably engage and hold the rocker members in up swung out of service condition, means to releasably interlock the rocker members to the foot portions of the rear leg frame when said rocker members are down swung to service condition, said latter means comprising locking bolts, housing means for slidably supporting the looking bolts affixed to the foot portions of the rear leg frame, and said rocker members having lock bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected, spring means for projecting the locking bolts, said locking bolts having laterally extending finger pieces, said housing means having longitudinal slotways through which said finger pieces extend, and said slotways terminating at their respective inner and outer ends in bayonet slots into which the finger pieces may be turned, whereby to releasably retain said lock ng bolts in retracted or projected positions as the case may be.

6. A folding chair convertible for stationary or rocking use comprising pivotally connected front and rear seat supporting leg frames and a foldable back rest, rocker members adapted to be optionally positioned in service or out of service condition, means to pivotally connect forward end portions of the rocker members to foot portions of the front leg frame, spring clips mounted on the upper portions of the front leg frame adapted to releasably engage and hold the rocker members in up swung out of service condition, means to releasably interlock the rocker members to the foot portions of the rear leg frame when said rocker members are down swung to service condition, said latter means comprising a tubular rung connected with and extending between the foot portions of the rear leg frame, locking bolts respectively slidably mounted in respective outer end portions of the rung, means for manipulating said locking bolts, and said rocker members having locking bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected.

7. A folding chair convertible for stationary or rocking use comprising pivotally connected front and rear seat supporting leg frames and a foldable back rest, rocker members adapted to be optionally positioned in service or out of service condition, means to pivotally connect forward end portions of the rocker members to foot portions of the front leg frame, spring clips mounted on the upper portions of the front leg frame adapted to releasably engage and hold the rocker members in up swung out of service condition, means to releasably interlock the rocker members to the foot portions of the rear leg frame when said rocker members are down swung to service condition, said latter means comprising a tubular rung connected with and extending between the foot portions of the rear leg frame, locking bolts respectively slidably mounted in respective outer end portions of the rung, spring means within the rung for projecting the locking bolts, said locking bolts having laterally extending finger pieces, said rung having longitudinal slotways through which said finger pieces extend, said slotways terminating at their respective inner and outer ends in bayonet slots into which the finger pieces may be turned, whereby to releaseably retain said locking 8 bolts in retracted or projected positions as the case may be, and said rocker members having locking bolt receiving apertures into which the locking bolts can be projected.

CASPER KREUTZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,724,220 Puccia Aug. 23, 1929 1,989,203 Larsen Jan. 29, 1935 2,407,839 Lemos Sept. 27, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,825 Great Britain A. D. 1904 

